First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 17

The party indeed rode hard and fast over the next two day. Arthur had stayed on the mount with Leon, the older boy watching for signs of distress from his charge. The boy was still healing, though the bruising was fading it was still noticeable, his shoulder carrying the worst of the coloring and still causing the Prince some issues, but he never complained.

They took short breaks, just long enough to water the horse, then continued. It was the last break they intended to take on the second day when Sir Cador decided to send a rider ahead to inform the King of their impending arrival. The excitement and relief of having their Prince nearly home could not be contained among the men. It had been an unconscious decision throughout the ride that the horse Leon and Arthur rode was kept in the middle of the party, the ten men had formed a bit of a circle around them, with their haste no one would have dared approached them. They were roughly still six hours out even at speed, but nothing would stop them, not even the devil himself would be able to stand between the party and the Citadel.

Dark was just settling over the Castle, as with each night townspeople were gathering for their nightly vigil. The King had taken to not being able to look upon the courtyard, he could feel the hope within the whole Kingdom slipping away with each passing moment. He had not left his own room since that night in the hallway. Gaius had hardly been able to get him to eat. Uther barely paid attention to the commotion that took over the courtyard as a Knight made a hasty entry. Within moments there was a frantic knock on the King's door, Sir Aaron pushing it open. "Sire, Sir Benjamin has just arrived, you are needed in the council chambers."

Uther looked up, knowing his heart could not take the news he feared the Knight would be bringing. "Sire please, he has word from Sir Cador."

At that moment Gaius arrived in the room, "Gaius, please go and see of the news, I don't think…" Uther's voice broke.

"No Sire, I believe this is something you must hear." The Physician moved forward, "Sir Aaron, help me please" the older man requested as he pulled the King to his feet.

Uther finally relented, "Fine I will go, but if…" the King's inability to finish the statement had both men knowing if the news was not good, their King would be lost.

Members of court had gathered and watched as their still healing King slowly made his way into the room, Gaius and Sir Aaron close behind. He refused to sit; if he was going to be told his son had still not been found, or worse, he would take that news standing then withdraw to his own despair.

"Sire, I have come with news from Sir Cador. His party will be arriving within the next few hours and My Lord," the Knight paused until the King looked up at him, "He has Prince Arthur with him."

A silence settled over the room for a moment, the words taking time to finally be understood by all those listening. The King took an unsteady step forward, his hand grabbing the Knight's arm. "My Son? Is he…" the words could not get past Uther's lips.

A smile broke across Sir Benjamin's face as he saw just a glimmer of hope in his King's eyes, "Sire, Prince Arthur and Sir Leon are both alive."

Sir Benjamin and Sir Aaron lunged forward as Uther's legs gave out under him, they quickly moved him to the high-backed chair he normally sat in. "Arthur's alive?" His voice shaking along with his body, tears forming in his eyes. At this moment he did not care who saw. Was it true that the Gods were smiling favorability on a man who deserved no favors and were returning his lost son to him. "He's alive…" a sob escaped.

"Yes Sire, he had sustained some injuries, but he is well and will be here in a matter of hours." The room seemed to come alive at once. Members of the council and the Knight's present immediately left the room to inform the rest of the Castle of the impending arrival of their lost Prince. A contingent of Knight's would be sent out to meet the arriving party and escort them the rest of the way.

"Gaius, Arthur's alive." Uther grabbed the older man's sleeve. An almost hysterical laugh escaped the King. "Help me to my room, I must change, my Son…God my Son is coming home."

The next couple of ours were a flurry of activity, every torch in the courtyard was lit. News had spread throughout the town, citizens filled the streets despite the late hour, the road from the lower gate to the courtyard was light up as if it was daylight. The anticipation was palpable, the fear and despair of the last week evaporated into an almost celebratory atmosphere, as it truly was a celebration, their Prince was safe and coming home.

It was just before midnight when the first cry went up, alerting the lower town of the approaching horses. Bells began to sound letting the upper town and Citadel know of the riders impending arrival. As soon as the first billowing cloak was spotted a cheer began to arise, growing louder the closer the riders got until the Knight's came racing though the gates. The road had been cleared hours before as the citizens kept to the side in hopes of catching a glimpse of their beloved Prince. It was nearly deafening once Sir Cador and his party with Leon and the Prince at his side made their way through the lower gates. The party did not stop as they continued towards the courtyard, many of the citizens following behind.

The sound of the bells from the lower town reached the courtyard, soon the alarm bells were being rang alerting all that the Knight's were arriving. The cheers of the lower town filling the air, the upper town's residents adding in their voices once Sir Cador's party passed.

Uther stood at the base of the stairs, he had changed into clothing that was closer to his normal attire, except for the chainmail shirt and coat he normally wore and of course his sword belt was missing, but none of that mattered as he could hear the approaching riders. Gaius, Sir Aaron and Sir Benjamin were staying close, the King was still weak, but he would not be seen by his son being supported by his Knights. He had no idea what his Son had endured, what injuries he had received. Uther's nightmares had been filled with visions of his son's blood being spilt and his small body slamming to the ground by the raiders powerful blow. It had been the last thing the man had ever done as Uther's sword had cut down the man, who dared to attack his Son. His last glimpse of his boy was Leon grabbing him up and making a desperate run for the trees. Those had been the memories of what had happened, but his nightmares would continue with his Son's broken body being returned to the Citadel, never to live to grow up, to fall in love, to be a father, to be a King. It was those nightmares that he would wake screaming from, it was those nightmares that Gaius, on more than one occasion, had needed to sedate him from.

Those terrible nightmares were beginning to give way to the anticipation that he would soon have his Son before him again, whole and alive. The first riders were just entering the courtyard as the cheers of the people was deafening.

Finally, Uther saw his best friend and First Knight as Sir Cador entered the gate, then just behind he saw…his breath stopped, the whole world seemed to disappear around him as he caught sight of the blond hair of his Son, the boy being held tight against Leon as they made their way to the front of the courtyard, near the stairs. The clatter of the horses nearly drowning out the cheers of the crowd, but Uther heard none of that, his eyes had not left the sight of his Son.

Leon had never seen the likes of what he saw upon reaching the lower gates of the town, he felt Arthur stiffen slightly at the amount of people and noise that greeted them. The Knight's that had rode out and met the returning party raced through the gates first, not slowing as Leon could see that despite what appeared to be the whole lower town being out, the road was lite and clear. Their party did not break speed either as they hit the gates and continued. The cheers grew louder the closer they got to the courtyard, but never once did they have to slow, the people knowing that their King needed to see his son, their Prince, as quickly as possible. The alarm bells were tolling once they reached the upper town, the gates to the courtyard within sight, the glow from within gave the impression of mid-day. Leon had held onto Arthur for dear life throughout the two-day ride, he could feel the boy taking in all that was happening, though maybe not understanding that this was all for him, his people needed to see his return, his people were cheering his return.

Leon's father crossed through the gate just ahead of him, then Leon's mount entered the courtyard. It was rare to see so many people filling the space, and unheard of this time of night, but this was no ordinary night, this was the night their Prince came home. Even with all the people in the courtyard a path was cleared to the base of the large set of stairs that led to the Castle, at the base of those stairs Leon could see his King. A relief like he had never felt surged through him at seeing his King alive, standing their waiting to be reunited with his son.

Leon pulled up next to his father, who had already dismounted and was reaching up to lower the Prince from their horse. In that moment the entire courtyard went silent as their King and their Prince saw each other for the first time since that terrible, violent attack. In that moment they witnessed the life that had been slowing leaching from their King being restored as his son was placed on the ground from the horse that carried him home.

It was in that silence everyone could hear the King's whispered, "Arthur" and their Prince's loud response, "FATHER!" before the boy flew into his father's waiting arms.